Country 93

Federal NDP Candidate Acclaimed for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound

44-year-old Chris Stephen of Chesley will be NDP name on ballot this fall.

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Chris Stephen will be the New Democrat on the ballot in Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound for the 2019 Canadian federal election.

Stephen was the lone nominee vying for candidacy and acclaimed to run under the NDP banner during the party's nomination meeting at the Harmony Centre in Owen Sound on Saturday.

The 44-year-old grew up in Chesley and is a long-time municipal worker for Arran-Elderslie. He is involved in union leadership as the current vice-president of CUPE Local 255 and a member of the Grey Bruce Labour Council.

"I am not your typical politician. In fact, I'm not a politician at all," Stephen told supporters. "I am a labourer. And I feel for far to long we've had typical, traditional politicians cram their ideas down our throats."

"Many of these people have never had to work a job and go home with dirt under their fingernails."

This is Stephen's first time running federally under the NDP banner but not his first foray into politics. Last fall, he narrowly lost a bid to become a councillor at the municipal level in Arran-Elderslie.

Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound has been a Conservative stronghold since retiring MP Larry Miller was first elected in 2004.

During his speech at the Harmony Centre, Stephen acknowledged the NDP are underdogs in the riding but delivered a confident message to supporters.

"I've already been told ... 'do you really think you can win?'" Stephen told supporters. "My response at the time was 'it doesn't matter if I win or not. It matters that I try.'

"As I stand here today and look out at all of you, I say hell yea we can win."